Carbon supply device for duplicating machines



July 25, 1933. 1.. J. MILLER CARBON SUPPLY DEVICE FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed 061',- 9, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l ZUZCZJ' J Miller July 25, 1933. L. J. MILLER CARBON SUPPLY DEVICE FOR DUPLICATING IAcHINES a Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9, 1930 I)? 6 ZimM/Z July 25, 1933. L. .5. MILLER I CARBON SUPPLY DEVICE FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed Oct. 9, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS J'. MILLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER ('20., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CARBON SUPPLY DEVICE FOR DUPLIOA'IING MACHINES Application filed October 9, 1930. Serial No. 487,587.

This invention relates particularly to duplicating machines adapted to the purpose of filling in forms on continuous-form stationery.

The invention is more particularly adapted to a machine comprising a bed equlpped with a plate-form platen, and a typewriter movably mounted on the bed and adapted to the purpose of typing in the forms.

The primary object is to provide 1mroved means for feeding continuous car- Eon strips between paper webs led over the platen. The invention provides means for interleaving continuous strips of carbon between webs of continuous-form stationery of the fanfold' type. It may be used with separate multiple-strip stationery, however. In accordance with the present lnventlon, a carbon supply device is mounted on the frame of the machine in rear of the platen, and carbon rolls are mounted on the device parallel to the rearwardly extending arms of the frame. Continuous fanfold stationcry, for example, may be led over the device and the platen from the rear. Gulde plates are supported and positioned alternately from opposite sides of the device so as to interleave the stationery, and carbon strips are drawn from carbon rolls and directed b the guide plates into operative position etween the continuous webs.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a machine embodying the invention; Fig. 1, a broken vertical sectional view showing a portion 'of the platen and an associated clamping member; Fig. 2, a transverse sec- 4 tional view taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 2, an end view of one of the multiple carbon rolls; Fig. 3, a broken perspectlve view illustratin one corner of the carbon-supply device; ig. 4, a lan view of the device mounted on a mac line; Fig. 5, an enlarged sectional view of a fanfolded web with lnterleaved carbon strips taken as'indicated atline 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a-vertical sectional view taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7, a vertical secig. 13, a similar view taken as indicated at line 13of Fig. 4, showing how the side bar is attached. 4

Referring to the drawings, A designates a frame comprising a standard A and a bed A B, a platen mounted in the front portion of said bed; C, a typewriting device mounted on rails which constitute the horizontal bed A of the machine; and D, a carbon-supply device demountabl carried "on the rods 1 which are fastened y screws 1 and spacing washer 1 to the rearwardly extending arms 2, with which the bed A of the machine is provided.

The carbon-supply device D is shown as comprising a demountable auxiliary device comprising a tray-like base member 3, hangers 4 depending from the base member 3, multiple-wound carbon rolls 5 and 6 sup-. ported by the hangers from which a numer of carbon strips 5* and 6 may be drawn upwardly; and a series of angular guide or turn plates"? and 8 over which the carbon strips are turned and drawn, forwardly over the platen.

Each corner ofthe base member 3 is rovided with a block 9 (Figs. 3 and 7), s ort studs 10, adapted to enter perforations and support the guide lates, project vertically from the blocks. pring clips 11 are ivoted from the blocks and are adapte to snap over the guide plates and hold them in position, as illustrated in Fig. 7 It will be noted that the swinging end of the clip is bifurcated to pass around the stud 10. The blocks also support a pair of guide rods 12 which parallel the arms 2 of the machine the carbon re s to the guide strips.

and serve to uide the carbon strips from The guide plates 7 and 8 consist of thin flat triangular blades, made preferably of a light sheet metal such as aluminum. One

edge is of sufficient length to span a pair of studs 10, adjacent one of the arms 2 of the machine. The end portions of that edge are provided with spacing lugs 13 which are attached to the blade. The lugs and blade are perforated to receive the studs 10. The longer edge 14 of the triangle serves as a turning edge for the carbon strips. The other edge extends transversely and the end is cut ofi so as not to reach the opposite side of the device, but rather to reach to the inner fold of the fanfold stationery, as will be explained later. The plates 7 and 8 are similar, the only difference being in that the spacing lugs are placed on opposite sides of the blade.

Ordinarily fanfold stationery, which may be used in this type of machine, is provided with transverse lines of weakening and some difficulty has been encountered, where turnplates or guide-plates were used, due to the tendency of the stationery to tear at the lines of weakening when it was drawn over the turning edge 14:, which is somewhat thickened by the carbon paper enveloping the plate. This objection has been overcome by providing the rear corner of each plate with a protecting arm or deflector 15 which serves as a spreader and opens the sheets slightly before they reach the carbon paper. The rear edge of the arm is rounded so that the lust contact with the line of weakening will be some distance inward from the edge, where the danger of tearing is lessened.

The multiple carbon rolls 5 and (3 are removably mounted on square shafts 16 so as to turn with the shafts. The ends of the shaft are rounded and journaled in L-shaped slots 17 with which the hangers 4 are provided. A swinging member 18 serves to hold the shafts in position. The forward ends of the shafts are provided with ratchets 19 and L-shaped pawls 20.

It will be seen from Fig. 4 that the carbon-supply device is shiftably mounted on the rods 1, its backward travel being limited by the cross-rod 2 of the machine and its forward travel, by adjustable stop devices 21 (Fig. The stops 21 are provided with points 21 which are positioned to lift the pawls 20 and permit the carbon rolls to turn when the carbon-supply device is shifted forwardly.

A locking device 22 is bolted to the basemember 3, and slides on a bar 23. The bar is attached to the arm 2 of the machine (Figs. 8 and 9) by means of a screw 23 and a spacing washer 23". The lower side of the bar 23 has a rack 23 which is releasably engaged by the finger button 22*.

If desired, extension arms 2i may be attached to the rear of the frame at the crossrod 2* and an auxiliary guide 25 provided to guide the continuous form stationery 26, from a suitable source of supply in rear of the platen. As shown in Fig. 1 a clamping member 27 with a blade 27 is usually provided to co-act with cross-bar 2 and hold the stationery in position. The clamping blade also serves as a tear-off edge for severing the completed forms. If desired, perforated stationery may be used and register pins (not shown) may be provided on the cross-bar 2 to engage the perforations and insure proper positioning of the forms over the platen.

The machine can be loaded with continuous fanfolded stationery very readily. The webs may be placed on the machine, and the carbon strips inserted alternately from opposite sides of the webs by means of the guide or turn plates 7 and 8. After the guide-plates have been placed on the ad jacent studs 10 and clamped in position by the spring clips 11, the machine is ready for operation.

To properly position the carbons, the carbon-supply device 1) may be slid forward by pressing the button 22 and drawing the device forward until the points 21 strike the pawls and release the ratchets. As much carbon may then be drawn from the rolls as needed. When the device is pushed backward, the rolls will-again be locked and the carbon strips withdrawn far enough to avoid the clamping blade 27 It will be understood that the paper webs may be drawn forward without feeding fresh carbon. When the carbon becomes worn, the carbon strips may be gripped and advanced with the webs, torn off and retracted, as explained above.

The invention provides a simple means for supplying and feeding continuous strips of carbon between the strips of continuous form stationery. The carbon surface may be more fully utilized and fresh carbon may be quickly and conveniently supplied when it is needed.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination: a main frame having a bed equipped with a plate-like platen and rearwardly extending arms; guide-rods supported by and spaced from said arms to provide passages for carbon-strips; and a carbon-supply device mounted on said guiderods comprising an auxiliary frame, spaced turn-plates supported by said auxiliary frame, and carbon-rolls suspended from said auxiliary frame.

2. In combination with a machine comprising a main frame having a bed equipped with a platen and arms extending rearwardly from said platen: a carbon supply device comprising an auxiliary frame disposed be tween the vertical planes of and supported from said arms in the rear of said platen, carbon-rolls depending from said auxiliary frame and having their axes longitudinal with relation to said arms, and a series of superposed turn-plates supported on said auxiliary frame.

3. Mechanism as specified in claim 2, in which said auxiliary frame is shiftable longitudinally of said arms and is provided with a transversely extending operating arm.

4. In a device of the character set forth, means for gripping the corners of a plurality of guide plates comprising: a block having a stud projecting therefrom adapted to engage a corner of a series of turn-plates; and aspring clip, pivotally mounted on said block, and adapted to swing over and lock said turn-plates onto said block.

5. In means of the character set forth: a frame having arms extending rearwardly; a plate-like platen mounted in said frame over which webs are drawn and a carbonsupply device shiftably mounted on said arms in the rear of the platen, said carbonsupply device having holders to support carbon-roll shafts, carbon-roll shafts provided with ratchet-wheels journaled in said holders, pawls mounted on said holders and engaging said ratchet wheels, and means for automatically disengaging said pawls from the ratchet wheels when said carbon-supply device is shifted forwardly.

6. A device of the character set forth in claim 5, in which the means for releasing the ratchet wheels by movement of the car'- hon-supply device comprises a pair of stops mounted on the arms in rear of the platen and provided with rearwardly extending fingers which engage the pawls and release the ratchet-wheels when the carbon-supplydevice is shifted to the forward position.

7. In a machine of the character set forth: a frame; a plate-like platen over which webs are drawn; and a carbon-supply device mounted on said frame in rear of said platen and adapted to interleave carbon between said webs, comprising a plate-like base memher having holders depending therefrom and studs mounted thereon, shafts adapted to support carbon-rolls journaled in said holders, turn-plates removably mounted on said studs and having oblique initial edges, and a pair of longitudinal guide rods mounted on saidbase member beneath said turn-plates whereby carbon strips may be drawn from said carbon-rolls and guided to said turnplates.

8. Mechanism as specified in claim 1, in which said auxiliary frame comprises a plate adapted to rest on said rods and support the carbon-rolls by means of carbon holders, and blocks mounted on said plate to hold said turn-plates in spaced relation.

LOUIS JQMILLER. 

